First Presbyterian Church 1169 Clark Street, SW Covington, GA 30014

Nonprofit Organi-zation

U.S. POSTAGE P A I D

Covington, GA 30014

Permit No. 32

The deadline for the January/February “First Press” is December 28, 2017. Please submit your articles and information to the church office by email: penihaug@gmail.com or by dropping

off your copy to the church office, neatly printed or typed or on a flash drive. Thanks!

Time Sensitive Church News Please Do Not Delay

See our website at: www.fpccov.org

December Birthdays

If your birthday has not appeared on our monthly list, please notify us of the full date and we will add it to our data base so that when your next birthday rolls around, we will be able to help you celebrate!

13 Sarah Hanson 15 Louly Hay 16 Palmer Wilson 17 Michael Gunter 18 Kathryn Wallace 21 Grace Hanson 22 Tina Boston 23 Julie Epps 24 Bill Taylor 25 Rod Pruner

1 Florine DeConinck Rebecca Bates 2 Dennis Hooten Sarah Gregory 4 Trent Blankenship 7 Luke Gregory 8 Laurel Ardis 10 Dot Schafer 11 Ellis Dunbar 12 Brad Phillips

December

27 Ed Crudup 28 Don Wade Doug Hicks 29 Dan Walden 31 Jodi Atkins

Drivers Needed Could you be an Uber driver for a day? Some of our members would like to come to church, but have no trans-portation. The Congrega-tional Life and Care Team would like to form a group of 8 that could rotate this re-sponsibility. To bring a member to church one Sun-day out of 8 would be greatly appreciated. Please call Jean Wolverton (678-342-3463) to volunteer. Thank you.

First Presbyterian

Church

1169 Clark Street, SW

Covington, GA 30014

(770)786-7321

Fax (770)786-6596

www.fpccov.org

FIRST PRESS

First Presbyterian

Church Staff

William B. Wade, Jr. Pastor

wbwade75@gmail.com

Dan Walden Director of Youth and

Children’s Ministry djwalden@mac.com

Peni Kehoe Secretary-Treasurer

penihaug@gmail.com

Jim Patrick Interim Choir Director patrickjo@charter.net

Alice Walker Organist

awalker.organist@ gmail.com

Aubrey Evans Shaun Evans

Nursery

Kara Sugg

Director Early Learning Center

fpelcdirector @gmail.com

Ambassador Choir Singing Dates

Thursday, December 7, 2017 - Regular Rehearsal at 10:30 a.m. followed by com-plimentary lunch and $10.00 Gift Exchange with Silver Saints at 12:00 noon Also, Covington Conyers Choral Guild Concert at First Baptist Church, Covington, at 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

Friday, December 8, 2017 - Covington Conyers Choral Guild Concert (alternate performance) at Conyers Auditorium at 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30 p.m..)

Thursday, December 14, 2017 - 1:00 p.m. Rehearsal followed by singing for Christmas Party in Fellowship Hall for Residents of Covington Square at 2:00 PM.

Thursday, December 21 and 28, 2017 - No Rehearsal - Merry Christmas!

Thursday, January 4, 2018 - Regular Rehearsal in Choir Room at 10:30 a.m.

Ambassador Choir has had a wonderful year of service, fun, and fellowship. We look forward to another great year in 2018!

First Presbyterian Church, Covington December 2017

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24

Morning: On Christmas Eve there will be a short worship service at 10:00 a.m. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper, light the Advent Candles and sing Christmas Carols. There will be no Sunday School that morning. Evening: The evening service on Christmas Eve will begin at 6:00 p.m. It will be a service of Scriptures, meditations, special music and carols, with our tradi-tional lighting of candles.

Advent

Advent is a mixture of looking back to the One who has come, and looking forward to the One who is coming, while trying to live faith-fully in the meantime. We begin by lighting candles in the dark-ness: candles of hope, peace, love and joy; for the darkest streets of this world and the darkness in our hearts cannot overcome the everlasting light in whom the hopes and fears of all the years are met.

Ceremony of Carols

Join us this Sunday, December 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. for a special worship service of music. The combined choirs of FPC and Epiphany Lutheran Church of Conyers will be presenting Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols.

The choirs will be accompanied by harpist Dania Lane who has performed for such ensembles as the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Ballet, Macon Symphony, and Knox-ville Symphony.

Page 2 First Presbyterian Church

Session & Administrative Notes

Monthly Financial Report

December Usher Chair: Gary Boteler

Sound Engineer:

Ken Walker

Hospital Visitors: 12/3: B & D Vining

12/10: Cy Wolverton 12/17: Day Kennon 12/24: Alice Walker

12/31: Jean Wolverton

Class of 2017 Adriane Ivey

Michael Thompson Danny Vining

Jean Wolverton Jake McCarthy

Koen Ardis

Class of 2018 Gary Boteler Billy Fortson

Scarlett Mccurry Stephanie Scarborough

Tom Stillerman

Class of 2019 Carter Gibson John McCarthy Teresa McCurry

Cheryl Meichsner Miriam Wheeler

MEMBERS OF SESSION

Serving Us in November

Weekly E-newsletter: If you are not receiving the FPC weekly E-News, send your e-mail address to: info@fpccov.org or call the church office.

2017 October

Numbers rounded

Monthly Budget

Monthly

Income/ Expenses

YTD Income

/Expenses

Pledged Income 31,666 31,560 306,230

Non-Pledge Income 2,916 6,024 50,117

Other Income 416 390 3,961

Total income 35,250 37,974 360,309

Expenses 36,556 35,477 360,377

Net Totals 10/30/2017

(-1,306) 2,477 (-68.32)

If unable to serve, please get a sub for

your duties

The Session will meet on Sunday, December 10, in the fellowship hall immediately after the morning worship ser-vice. New elders Doug Bol-ton, Stan Hall, Cindy Moon, Bob Tabb, Michael Thompson, Koen Ardis and Sophia Hawley will be examined. The 2018 budg-et process will begin

Pledge arrears for 2017 (10,436)

November Session Highlights

The following items were acted upon at the November Session Meeting: Approved recommendation to continue cub

scout program at FPC under the leadership of Tamara Williams

Approved Community education event focus-ing on Seasonal Affective Disorder and De-pression by Mental Health America of Geor-gia on November 18, 2017

Approved Congregational Family Dinner to be hosted by the Thompsons on November 23, 2017

Doug Hicks approved to serve communion. January and February newsletters to be

combined Ordination and Installation of new elders on

Session moved to January 14 Letter of transfer approved for Mary Bollinger

to First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island

Delegate to Presbytery meeting on Tuesday, 11/14 at Pleasant Hill approved: Michael Thompson, Danny Vining and John McCar-thy

Joy Gift Dinner moved to Wednesday, De-cember 20 at 6:00 p.m.

Personnel team has closed interviews for new candidates for Director of Music in favor of scheduling second interviews for finalists

Submitted by Michael Thompson Clerk of Session

First Presbyterian Church Page 7

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

4:00 Exercise

6:45 Sanctuary Choir

10:30 Ambassador Choir

1

2

3 Advent 1

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service Ceremony of Carols 5:00 Youth Connection

4 5 Circle Meetings: 10:00 Eliz. Ann 10:30-Martha

4:00 Exercise 6:00 Ruth

6

6:45 Sanctuary Choir

7

10:30 Ambassador Choir 12:00 Silver Saints and Amb. Choir Lunch

8 6-9:00 Parents’ Night Out

9 Called Pres-bytery Meet-ing: Rad-cliffe PC

10 Advent 2

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service with Communion 12:00 Session Meeting 5:00 Youth Connection

11

12

4:00 Exercise

13 1:00-6:00 Red Cross Blood Drive 6:45 Sanctuary Choir

14 10:30 Ambassador Choir 2:00 High Rise Cookie Party

15

16

17 Advent 3

9:00 Handbell Choir 9:30 Children’s Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service 5:00 Youth Connection

18

19

4:00 Exercise

20

6:00 Christmas Joy Dinner

21

22

23

8:00 Men’s Bible Study & Breakfast

24 Advent 4

9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Worship Service with Communion 6:00 Christmas Eve Worship

25 Christmas Day

26 4:00 Exercise

27 6:45 Sanctuary Choir

28

29

Church office closed

30 Meals on Wheels

31

9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service

January 1 January 2 4:00 Exercise

January 3 6:45 Sanctuary Choir

January 4

10:30 Ambassador Choir

January 5

January 6

School Winter Break

School Winter Break

Church office closed

School Winter Break

Page 6 First Presbyterian Church

Youth Connection

Christmas Love Gifts for Staff

Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian Church: Each year during the Christmas Season, we at FPC, Covington, like to show our appre-ciation and gratitude to our church staff members who give so much of themselves on our behalf throughout the course of each year.

We ask for your participation in this effort by making a contribution to a special fund that we establish annually for this purpose. You may contribute in several ways: leaving your contribution in the FPC offering plate, bringing it by the church office, or mailing it to the church. Please ensure that you label your check and/or your envelope, “2017 Love Gift” so that it will end up in the right place. It would be helpful if your contribution were made in a separate check, rather than making it a part of your regular contribu-tions to FPC.

Please make sure that your “Staff Love Gift” reaches the church by Sunday, December 17, 2017.

Your generosity is much appreciated, in helping us to show our love to our devoted Church Staff Members. Sincerely,

Gary Boteler, Finance Team

YOUTH CONNECTION CHRISTMAS

Christmas Shopping - Sunday, 12/3/17 We'll gather at the church at 5:00 p.m. to go shopping to buy gifts for children in the community and come back to the church to wrap them and enjoy dinner together. Christmas Caroling - Sunday, 12/17/17 Beginning at 5:00 p.m., we'll have dinner and warm up our sing-ing voices at the church, then head out to the retirement high rise to share the joy of Christ's birth.

First Presbyterian Church Page 3

News of the Congregation

Presbyterian Women’s Circles

Presbyterian Women will continue to explore the communities of Christ through the study of “Cloud of Witnesses.” Guests are welcome. If you would like more information contact Jan Giles at: FamilyGilesGa@gmail.com.

Circle meetings for December are: Elizabeth Ann Circle will meet at FPC in the fellow-ship hall on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 10:00 a.m. Martha Circle will meet at the home of Day Kennon on Tuesday Dec. 5, at 10:30 a.m. For directions call 541-290-5513. Janet Carmichael will be our study leader. Ruth Circle December 5, 6:00 p.m. They will meet at the home of Stephanie Scarborough. For January: Elizabeth Martin Pope, PhD, will lead a joint discus-sion with all circles on January 2, 2018 at 10 a.m. in the Martin Fellowship Hall. The discussion will be based on lesson 5 from the Presbyterian Women’s study book, “Cloud of Witness”. Elizabeth grew up in this church and is the daughter of Chris and Barbara Martin. All who are interested are encouraged to at-tend.

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study

The Men’s Breakfast Bible Study will continue its study of Rob Bell’s Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Bell is the found-ing pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His book is a New York Times bestseller. Come join us at 8:00-9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Decem-ber 23. Bring your breakfast and bring a friend

The annual Christmas party luncheon for the Silver Saints and the Ambassador Choir will take place on Thursday, December 7, at 12:00 noon. This is a catered meal. We also enjoy a fun time following the meal as we exchange Christmas gifts valued at $10. If you don't regularly attend these lunches please call the church office 770-786-7321 to make a reservation so preparations will be adequate. If you are 50 years of age or more we welcome you to join us for this holiday fun!

Christmas Flowers

Poinsettias will be used to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas. You may donate in memory or honor of someone with the suggested minimum donation of $8.00. Please fill out the form at church, and place in the offering plate with a check or drop it off at the church office by December 10th.

Special Presbytery Meeting There will be a called meeting of the Presbytery of Atlanta on Saturday, December 9, at Radcliffe Pres-byterian Church to hear and act on a report from the Executive Presbyter Search Committee. The nomi-nee for our new Executive Presbyter is The Rev. Aisha Brooks-Lytle.

January Notes

The January “First Press” will be mailed mid-month and combined with February’s News so we are print-ing these announcements for you to mark on your calendar.

January 14: New elders will be ordained and in-stalled during the morning worship service. The Lord’s Supper will be served during the ser-vice. Prepare your heart. Session will meet that same day for its regular monthly meeting after the worship service.

Page 4 First Presbyterian Church

Early Learning Center

Family Connection

Christmas Joy Dinner & Offering Wednesday, December 20th @ 6:00 p.m.

Join us for our annual Christmas Joy Dinner on Wednesday, December 20, with dinner being served at 6:00 p.m. in the Martin Fellowship Hall. We will share a wonderful holiday dinner togeth-er, and enjoy a program of song presented by many of our talented members of all ages. Please make reservations with the church office so that we can make sure to have enough food for eve-ryone. Also, bring a holiday dessert to share!

The Christmas Joy Offering is distributed equally to support the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. The portion given to the Assistance Program helps to assist pastors and other church work-ers, both active and retired, who find themselves in a position of fi-nancial need. This assistance is provided through a range of pro-grams, including shared and emergency grants that help current and retired workers with urgent, unexpected financial needs, income

supplements that allow retirees to maintain independent living, and housing supplements that help retirees meet their housing needs.

Dear FPC Family, I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone by! This month our theme is Christmas, and our Bible verse is Luke 2:11, “Today our Savior, Christ the Lord, was born.” We will be performing a Christmas program on December 4 at 6:30 p.m. This year our performance is “My Best-est Friend.” The stu-dents learned through dialogue and song that God planned for Jesus to be born on Christmas to be the very best friend that we could ever have.

In January we are going to study Dinosaurs, and our verse for the month is Genesis 1:21, “So God created every living creature. And God saw that it was good.” We love dinosaur month because of the creative projects we can do. It’s also super fun to hear the kids say the dinosaur names. There is a lot of growling in the ELC during the month! We will have a visit from the Reptile Wrangler. Last year, he brought 5 different reptiles for the students to learn about and touch!

Upcoming fundraising opportunities include: Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A on January 9th from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and at the Irish Bred Pub on January 15th, with a portion of the proceeds from purchases made those nights going to FPELC if you mention that you are there for Spirit Night. We’d love to see our FPC family there! I also have a drawing for a gift card for everyone who is at Chick-fil-A and checks in with me. Lastly, we will be selling Butterbraids beginning January 17th.

We are already gearing up for our annual Art Affair fundraiser which will be held on March 16th at the Ameri-can Legion Building on Legion Drive. We would love to have help from our FPC family for supplies or mone-tary donations. We need canvasses (various sizes), acrylic paints, art paint brushes, and furniture items (like stools, benches, small tables, etc.) that can be repurposed. We could also se some old metal watering cans, metal (camping) dishes, spoons, and buttons. Any help you can give will be appreciated.

I pray that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Blessings, Kara

First Presbyterian Church Page 5a

Community Food Pantry

The Food Pantry is looking for some volunteers to help on Tuesdays or Fridays. The Food Pantry is a ministry birthed by this congregation and housed for over 20 years in our building. Bernice Bailey is the Director. Please talk with Bernice (770-786-3048) or call the church office if you can help (770-786-7321). Food suggestions for December donations: cake and brownie mixes

Witness news

Greetings to Patti Lanford

Our own Patti Lanford has joined the Peace Corps. For 27 months she will be stationed in Zambia. If you would like to write her an encouraging word or a Christ-mas wish, the address is: Peace Corps P. O. Box 50707 Lusaka, Zambia

Baby Love

Following the success of Baby Love Sunday an extra diaper and wipes distribution was made to the Salvation Army, Food Pantry and the Shelter. We should remember these young families and the need they have at Christmas time, too. Hopefully, with your continued support, another distribution can be made dur-ing the holiday season.

Christmas Is Coming

The Hudson/Chandler Bike Fund supplies bikes for chil-dren under the care of DFACS . To give, make a check out to the church and designate “bike fund”. Deadline for giving is Dec 10.

Pastor’s Discretionary Fund: Each year we have last mi-nute requests from families who are not covered by the Salva-tion Army but cannot afford Christmas gifts for their children.

After investigating the request, church staff give the family a gift certificate to one of the local stores. If you would like to contribute to this fund, make your check out to the church and designate Pastor’s Discretionary Fund. The Discretionary Fund is used throughout the year to help local folks with vari-ous needs.

The Christmas trees decorated with names of those in need this holiday season at the local nursing homes and those iden-tified by the Salvation Army, are in the narthex. Please visit each tree, make a selection, sign your name on the sheet

available.

The wrapped gift or bag should be received at the church no later than Sunday, December 17th. If you are unable to bring the gift by this date, you will be responsible to deliver it to the indicated place for distribution.

This Christmas tradition has been celebrated by FPC for many years and has made Christmas joy for many persons who might not have the pleasure of receiving a gift without our kindness.

May you enjoy the true meaning of this Advent season.

Blanket & Coat Drive

A December month-long collection of blan-kets and coats will be delivered to the shel-ter in early January. Donations can be placed in the box in the narthex.

December 30th Meals on Wheels will be led by Teresa and Scarlett McCurry. Con-tact them if you want to volunteer.

Covington Square Christmas Party

Thursday, December 14th, will be a Christ-mas party in the Martin Fellowship Hall at 2:00 p.m. for the residents of the High Rise. Cookies will be provided by the women of the circles. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jean Elder.